In a letter to its branches in Accra, the Union said any member who would flout the directive would be severely sanctioned.

The statement, signed by George Ofori-Davis, the Deputy General Secretary/Administration of the GPRTU, reminded the branches that the peddling of drugs on commercial vehicles was a clear violation of section 118(1) of the Public Health Act 2012- Act 851.

One could be prosecuted for violating it, it cautioned.

“The Act states that: ‘A person shall not manufacture, prepare, import, export, distribute, sell, supply or exhibit for sale of drug, herbal medicinal product, cosmetic, medical device or household chemical substance unless the article has been registered by the Food and Drugs Authority.’”

“It has come to the attention of the Management of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) that some of the Union’s vehicles are being used as platforms by drug peddlers to practice their trade,” it stated.

The statement said the practice had created a very bad image for the Union in the eyes of the Government and the public, for aiding and abetting illegal activities.

The GPRTU therefore asked the branches to ensure that the directive was conveyed immediately to their members for strict compliance.

–

Source: GNA

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According to the Union, per the current laws, Uber’s vehicles are operating illegally in Ghana because they are breaching some requirements of the Road Traffic Regulation 2012, L.I 2180.

There were reports on social media over the weekend that the Ministry of Transport had directed Uber to ensure all its drivers brand their cars like taxis. 

This, however, turned out to be false as the Ministry denied such reports.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QcF9Qs7lGgBt3agFZDLfiCPvKqtLmLbM”]The Transport Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Gloria Holm-Graves, told Citi News that the said meeting was not conclusive.

“The meeting wasn’t conclusive because it is an ongoing process. We are listening to some of the laws and all that. The commercial drivers were raising all those things; about what is required for one to operate as a taxi service in the country, all the regulations that are available that one is expected to fulfill, and all of that.”

But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, Vice Chairman of GPRTU, Robert Saba, who said they are not scared of the competition posed by Uber, insisted that they are only fighting for fairness.

According to him, per Ghana’s traffic regulations, taxis must have some of their parts painted with yellow colours as well as have a section indicating the number of passengers the taxi could take, information about the owner of the taxi among other things, adding that because Uber taxis do not have such information; they are currently, what he termed, “invisible.”

He also insisted that because taxi drivers pay tax and other levies to the state, Uber drivers must do same.

“We believe in competition, we do not fear competition. We’ve been in existence several years for now so we do not fear competition but the right thing must be done.”

“What I’m saying is that they [Uber], are operating like taxis but they do not pay the fees which taxis are paying. For instance, the wings of Uber vehicles must be painted yellow in accordance with section 130 of the L.I. You cannot use private vehicles for commercial purposes. That is also an offence. We pay fees to District Assemblies to emboss our vehicles, do they do that? They do not so all these expenses are not taken into consideration by them, so if they reduce their fares, that is good enough.”

Police must arrest Uber vehicles

Further arguing why he believes Uber vehicles should be painted with taxi colours, the GPRTU Vice Chairman said that should be the case “because Uber’s operation is equal to that of a taxi.”

He also insisted that drivers of Uber vehicles should be arrested by the Police because they are flouting the traffic regulations.

“The police should be arresting them, but they are failing to do that. The district assemblies are also part,” he added.

About Uber App

Uber Technologies Inc. is a global taxi technology company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, operating in over 630 cities worldwide and has a platform with an embedded GPS system which is also mobile friendly and connects passengers to taxi services at an affordable rate.

In Ghana, Uber is present in the national capital Accra, and the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

Hundreds of drivers have jumped onto the platform to make a living either on full-time or part-time basis.

In recent times, there had been arguments about whether Uber was a transport company or a technology service provider.

We can create an App like Uber – GPRTU

According to the GPRTU Vice Chairman although they do not have such a platform or APP used by Uber, they could also create one to enhance their services.

“We don’t have that platform but we can create that platform. We can do that. But I’m saying that their operations are not in accordance with road traffic regulations that are what we have to tackle for now.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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According to the Vice Chairman of the GPRTU, Robert Saba, the Union will meet key stakeholders including the Transport Ministry to deliberate and arrive at a decision.

The GPRTU earlier this month announced a possible increase in fares due to increment in the prices of spare parts.

The Abbosey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has however denied any price increase of their products.

But the GPRTU insists prices of vehicle spare parts have gone up in recent times, hence the need to adjust transport fares up.

“Every car owner and driver knows what I am talking about. They are only trying to throw dust into the eyes of the public. Are they [spare parts dealers] saying when the dollar was going up, they maintained their prices? Their prices fluctuate. I am saying that it is false. They only want to throw dust into the eyes of the public” Mr Saba insisted.

According to him, there is enough evidence to show that prices of spare parts have gone up.

“It has been increased, I have evidence over the period and it’s because I buy spare parts myself. My members also buy vehicle spare parts. We don’t take delight in increasing fares because we know the ripple effect that can trigger the prices of other commodities. So we do so with caution” he emphasized.

In 2017, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori -Atta, announced during the budget presentation that government has abolished some taxes, as well as duties on vehicle spare parts imported into the country.

According to him, many of the taxes were nuisance taxes burdening Ghanaians.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana.

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Reports of the said meeting and the drivers’ appeal dominated social media over the weekend attracting mixed reactions from Ghanaians.

Commercial taxi drivers have raised several concerns over Uber’s operations which have bordered on taxes, unfair competition, among others.

But the Secretary of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, Andrews Kwakye tells Citi Business News arguments for rebranding of Uber cars have not yet been tabled before the Ministry.

“No such meeting has taken place. Infact with issues concerning Uber, there is a little the transport operators can do about because it is an international brand. The rules are clear. We are not fighting for anybody. What we are saying is we will make sure the government derives its taxes and everything that is deemed for the country”.

He continued that “and they have assured us that through their registration and their international affiliations their taxes and others are being taken care of. So I don’t think any issue will call for such an urgent meeting”.

Meanwhile the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has disclosed that it will revive discussions on regulating Uber’s operations in Ghana in its meeting with the Transport Ministry soon.

Chairman of the GPRTU, Robert Sabah tells Citi Business News he is hopeful the discussions will yield positive results going forward.

“The fact remains that in accordance with road traffic regulations 2012, LI 21, 80 it has been stipulated that if you want to operate in a form of a taxi, the four sides must be painted yellow. But the Uber is operating like taxis but have not painted their vehicles in accordance with the rule. So they are flouting those rules,” he said.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Drivers dismiss Uber rebranding reports appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the GPRTU, the increment has become necessary following constant increases in the prices of vehicle spare parts.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FrZCcLwoiZvzB5WWEwBZdJnbUp0OJNvV”]The Vice Chairman of GPRTU, Robert Saba, explained to Citi Business News that members of the union have had to bear the extra cost for some time now, but can no longer absorb it.

“The spare parts have gone up and it is not the fuel alone that we use in calculating our fares. Looking at the current situation, the spare parts have gone up and it demands for an increase in lorry fares. Almost every part that we use [The price] has gone up,” he lamented.

Mr. Saba stated that, the current situation requires an upward adjustment in transportation fares to cushion transport owners and drivers.

“We have fought hard not to increase the fares. The tyres that we use, the rings that we buy in overhauling our vehicles, the bearings,— almost everything has gone up. With this, we have no choice but to increase fares to mitigate the impact” he explained.

“We do not take delight in increasing fares because we know its ripple effect. But take for instance a turbocharger which was previously selling at Ghc300 is now selling at Ghc400” he added.

Mr. Saba maintained that the union will strongly push for the increase in all its engagements with the major stakeholders in the transport sector, including government.

The government in 2017 scrapped import duties on some selected spare parts following a campaign promise in the 2016 general elections.

It is thus unclear whether the spare parts used by these GPRTU members were not affected by the tax cut.

–

By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post GPRTU hints of increment in transport fares appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to a Citi News source, the meeting between leadership of the VIP, the GPRTU and the STC ended inconclusively.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MJ02Dve8dGaP8WQs2eDixAJrXqoTmqV2″]The meeting was to address a dispute between operators of the private VIP buses and the STC, who are both claiming ownership of a parcel of land at the Asafo terminal.

Drivers and some workers of the VIP, who had come in with two fully loaded buses and tied red bands, were restricted by the security from entering the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

The leadership were only allowed in to attend the meeting.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, has declined comment on the outcome of the meeting,but says his office will issue a statement by close of day today [Tuesday].

Some officials of STC, who had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal were denied access to the venue by VIP bus officials.

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches

The Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukemond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

One arrested in STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi

On Monday, one person was arrested during the protest by workers of the Neoplan bus terminal at Asafo, Kumasi during the standoff.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post STC ordered to suspend operations at Asafo terminal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to them, the executives of GPRTU agreed on the contract verbally without any written contract.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, Former Deputy CEO for MASLOC, Mustapha Abubakar, said his administration only signed a contract with the vehicle supplier MAC Auto & Spare Parts but not with GPRTU.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BfsWcdaQLjhK55P6WW49QFwbWpRQ6WZ9″]He explained that the leadership of GPRTU had expressed satisfaction with the vehicles, and had given MASLOC the assurances to purchase them.

…they were satisfied with it, invoices were given to them and we also had some, we all worked on it. And once everything was settled even though the contract had not been signed, we signed the contract with MAC Auto & Spare Parts, but we have not signed the contract with GPRTU yet. And so the handing over was done after they had gone to inspect [the vehicles]. The handing over was done at the Parliament house.”

Mr. Abubakar said during the handing over ceremony, the chairman of the GPRTU, who is currently raising concerns, was present with his team to receive the vehicles together with his regional representatives.

“…And so once they received it and thanked John Mahama and MASLOC for the gesture, you ask yourself what has gone wrong because they were aware of the prices that were being given to them.”

The former MASLOC CEO said for the buses “we gave [it to] them at GHc380, 000 which was about GHc94,800 [each].”

“[For the Chevrolet] Aveo and the [Chevrolet]Spark Light [it] was around 6,500 and 5,500 – those were the figures we gave them. They agreed, they communicated to us and were ready to take the vehicles. They gave us their word,” Mr. Abubakar added.

350 vehicles too expensive

MASLOC is currently in the news for procuring some 350 vehicles meant for the GPRTU members but were rejected by the transport union because it was said to be “too expensive.”

MASLOC was established primarily to provide micro and small loans for start-ups and small businesses to enable them to grow and expand.

In the past few years, it has been involved in the sale of cars on credit to individuals and groups including Members of Parliament, musicians and celebrities; however, it is challenged with retrieving the monies owed it.

Some have viewed it as a business that ends up rewarding political party members.

The management of MASLOC has so far confiscated 350 of such vehicles, and is currently in the process of retrieving the monies believed to be over GHc100 million.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post We had no written contract with GPRTU for 350 cars – Fmr. deputy CEO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He argued that the centre which was established with the motive of alleviating poverty has not lived up to expectation.

According to Mr. Cudjoe, MASLOC and its related social intervention programmes often “tend to become scams.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”qjO3FuR7KJmksKgjRW4nr7rwiy28tlfN”]“…These schemes unfortunately by their nature tend to become scams. And it is quite worrying. So for us, those who believe in prudent financial management, we said shut these things down because this is not the first time MASLOC has been in the news and it’s getting us worried,” he said on Cit FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday.

MASLOC is currently in the news for procuring some 350 vehicles meant for drivers belonging to the GPRTU, but were rejected by the union because it was said to be “too expensive.”

MASLOC was established primarily to provide micro and small loans for start-ups and small businesses to enable them to grow and expand.

In the past few years, it has been involved in the sale of cars on credit to individuals and groups including Members of Parliament, musicians and celebrities; however, it is challenged with retrieving the monies owed it.

Some have viewed it as a business that ends up rewarding political party members.

The management of MASLOC has so far confiscated 350 of such vehicles, and is currently in the process of retrieving the monies believed to be over GHc100 million.

Franklin Cudjoe lamented that, although MASLOC has veered off its core mandate because some of its beneficiaries are well to do people hence the centre should be scrapped.

“President Kufuor established MASLOC as one of those entities to help alleviate poverty, and there have been a number of poverty alleviation programmes which invariably, the stories have been that they never really did the alleviation. In fact, if they alleviate anything at all, it was mismatch, because it was only alleviating the poverty of the people who introduce the programmes.  I’m happy that the list will come; you will clearly see exactly people who shouldn’t be actually benefiting from those loans, are the ones who had benefited from the loans,” he said.

The President of the policy think tank further decried political interference at MASLOC.

“Unfortunately, the politics of MASLOC, given the fact that it is a creature of the presidency, because it reports directly under the presidency, makes it difficult to prevent those kinds of interference. It is easy to say we won’t allow these things to happen again, but the very structure is questionable,” he added.

But the Deputy Chief Executive of MASLOC, Maame Afia Akoto, who was also speaking on The Big Issue disagreed with the shutting down of the centre.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The General Secretary and the Chairman of GPRTU, who are said to be divided along political lines although expected to be working in the interest of their members, have taken opposing stance over the cost of some 350 vehicles they were to buy on hire-purchase from MASLOC.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3U6CALeTO0QTubnOckvF4rA4PYElkzRF”]MASLOC, under the previous John Mahama government, signed an agreement with MAC Autos & Spare Parts Ghana Limited to procure 350 cars at an agreed amount of GHc62.2 million for subsequent sale on hire purchase arrangement to GPRTU.

Negotiations on the payment for the vehicles between GPTRU and MASLOC, however ended with the exit of the former government.

GPRTU was forced to restart negations with the new management of the MASLOC after the New Patriotic Party government was sworn into office in January this year.

While the General Secretary of GPRTU, Alhaji Issa Khalifah, claims the new management of MASLOC, headed by Sedina Tamakloe Attionu inflated the cost of the cars, the Union’s Chairman, Kwame Kuma, said the Union had agreed with MASLOC to purchase the cars at the same amount agreed upon under the previous government.

In separate interviews on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, the two executives contradicted each other on the new payment plan and openly demonstrated their long-standing conflict.

“Aveo Salon car was given to us at GH¢56,000 and the Spark was given to us at GH¢55,000, and the bus was given to us for GH¢380,000. Elections happened and the NDC lost the elections. Mrs. Tamakloe went away and the new CEO was appointed in the person of Stephen Amoah. Stephen Amoah reviewed the prices and priced the Aveo GH¢ 72,000 and the Spark GH¢ 61,000. The bus was GH¢ 445,000, and it was Stephen Amoah who told us that even if this vehicle was given to us, we cannot pay,” Issa Khalifah said.

But the GPRTU Chairman said, “The former price the previous government was giving us is the same price that the new administration is negotiating with us.”

He further accused the General Secretary of deliberately staying away from critical meetings on the subject.

Meanwhile, the new Managing Director of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah, has denied that he increased the cost of the vehicles in a meeting with the GPRTU executives.

According to him, his outfit’s audit into the contract between the old administration and MAC Autos & Spare Parts Ghana Limited, indicates that the former administration procured each unit of the car at a higher cost compared to the average retail price.

He said his outfit has forwarded the contract document and others signed by the previous management to the Auditor-General for perusal, and he is receiving advice from his legal team on what actions could be taken to address the situation which many have expressed worry about.

The 350 vehicles remain parked and unused.

MASLOC chases MPs, actors for non-payment of car loans

The Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), is also currently on the heels of some Members of Parliament who bought their vehicles on loan, but had defaulted in paying back several years after.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah, letters he wrote to the MPS involved asking them to honour their obligations have not received any reply.

Actors, musicians, others owe us close to GHc100 million

“I went through my documents…I realized that our debt portfolio was over GHc100 million, and I found some of them to be actors, actresses, parliamentarians from both sides [of the political divide].”

Mr. Amoah said there were some who came for the vehicles and instead of using them, parked the cars at their garages for close to two years.

He also confirmed that his outfit has so far confiscated 350 of such vehicles and is currently in the process of retrieving the monies.

He threatened to take legal action against the recalcitrant debtors.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Political’ GPRTU executives divided over MASLOC car deal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the union, the spate of road accidents by abandoned broken down vehicles on Ghanaian roads will reduce if the tow tax is implemented.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9a17wyoDIGj3lLJ2VAspcH5MwrTIr9PN”]The Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament on Tuesday recommended that government implement the mandatory tow tax and the National Chairman of GPRTU, Kwame Kumah has told Citi News he believes the move will benefit all road users, despite concerns with the amount being paid for the tax.

The Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament roped in a number of stakeholders into discussions on the matter, including the GPRTU, and Mr. Kumah said his people had come concerns with the price and asked that “they should reduce the price small for us.”

Concerns notwithstanding, he said “the initiative is good so all of us should put everything aside and think about Ghana first.”

“Sometimes if some of the buses or trucks break down on the road, it will take about four or five days for them to be moved and it used to cause accidents. So the initiative that government is bringing will help the road be peaceful for us.”

“I am a driver by profession and if you are driving at night and don’t take time, a car which has broken down on the road that is not showing any signal can cause an accident,” Mr. Kumah said.

The Road Safety Management Services (RSMSL) will be spearheading this nationwide towing program, in which drivers will be required to pay a road safety fee ranging between GHc 10 and GHc 100.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We must support national towing programme – GPRTU appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.